MEPs are calling for clarification on the fast-track appointment procedure that propelled Martin Selmayr, the former head of the private office of the European Commission president, to the post of Secretary General of the institution that was highlighted first by the French daily, Libération (see EUROPE 11971).
Within the budgetary control committee, Bart Staes (Greens/EFA, Belgium) garnered the support of the S&D, ALDE, GUE/NGL and EFDD Groups on Wednesday 28 February to call for investigation into the facts. In addition to the Selmayr appointment, they call for explanations on the Parliament pension that Climate Action Commissioner Miguel Arias Cañete is being paid and a meeting between Growth Commissioner Jyrki Katainen and the former Commission president José Manuel Barroso who was recruited by American investment bank Goldman Sachs.
Until such time as the explanations sought are provided (no decision was taken as to whether this should be in writing or face-to-face), the committee will not discharge the 2016 budget, the vote on which is scheduled for the month of March. Staes also put down a priority written question to the Commission, in expectation of a response in less than three weeks.
On Thursday 1 March, the French Socialist delegation wrote in turn to Commission president Jean-Claude Juncker calling on him to shed light in person on the Selmayr appointment. “It is our right, indeed our duty, as legislators and representatives of European Union citizens, to ensure that the rules in force at the European Commission on the career paths, movement and promotion of officials are respected”, said the head of the delegation Christine Revault d'Allonnes-Bonnefoy. She said she fears that this affair might raise further mistrust of the European institutions among citizens.
“Chancellor Angela Merkel appointed ministers from the CDU party, she didn’t ask anyone. French President Emmanuel Macron appointed his own prime minister. It’s quite normal that the president of the Commission should have the right to decide who his secretary general should be”, Human Resources Commissioner Günther Oettinger told Belgian dailies Le Soir, l’Écho and De Tijd. “Mr Juncker has 27 commissioners who have been sent by the member states. The only two posts he can decide on are the head of his private office and his secretary general”, he added. (Original version in French by Mathieu Bion)